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that means to me, for example, is that when I buy old science fiction paperbacks, with green men and spaceships and the like on the cover, that these will be worth more and more. I sell paperbacks that I bought for 50 cents for $10.00 every day of the week - if they are nice looking ones. The same is true of military books, mysteries, and biographies.

Sixth, Baby Boomers are retiring and will be reading more and more - so keep an eye out for copies of books that mean something special to them - like James Bond first editions, or books on surfing or rock music. Similarly, Vietnam books from the 70's are hot sellers.

Seventh, buy low. Set yourself a limit of a few dollars and go to thrift shops, church fairs, garage sales, and even eBay. Even if you you make a mistake, you will learn from it. There are plenty of one-dollar books that are worth a lot of money, and you will find them if you use your wits and your patience.

Eighth, use your brain. The example above, the medical book on Syphilology, is an example of my not being afraid of fancy words. Syphilology is the study of syphilis, and that book, a leather-bound beauty from the the 1890's, had many gruesome photos of disease victims. Turns out a practicing physician had been looking for this volume for years, and was pleased as punch to find a good one and pay big bucks for it. It makes sense: there was unique information in that book that will always have value. It wasn't outdated, it wasn't silly, it looked good. Don't be put off by weird academic topics. You don't have to read arcane books, you just have to own them!

Finally, you will run out of space before you run out of money when you invest in books, so be prepared to find nooks and crannies for your volumes, and make sure your spouse is on board.

Learn more about this author, Timothy Blankenhorn.
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